The vehicle is registered to Santa Monica businessman Scott Schenter, 47, who has a background that includes marketing. According to the Times, Schenter recently registered a website called 4joemcknight.com.

USC plays Boston College in the Emerald Bowl on Dec. 26. McKnight is the Trojans' leading rusher this season with 1,014 yards.

McKnight has a 10-month-old son, Jaiden, with girlfriend Johana Michelle Beltran. The running back told the Times that Beltran works for Schenter and the Land Rover was "my baby mama's boss'. "

"I never talk to her about it," he added. "I just see it whenever my girlfriend's around with my kid. I ask no questions. I just do what I got to do."

The newspaper contacted Schenter by email and sent him a list of questions, but he has not responded to multiple requests for answers. Schenter is in South Africa, according to his wife, and USC officials planned to speak with him when he arrives back in Los Angeles next week.

Schenter's LinkedIn account says he is president of TeslaVision, but a person who answered the phone at the Kirkland, Wash., headquarters said Schenter no longer worked for the company.

Beltran and Jaiden attended the Trojans' game in September at Washington. McKnight said he didn't know who paid for their transportation to the game in Seattle.

Schenter is a 1985 graduate of Washington's business school, according to its alumni office.